Whether it’s a New Year’s resolution, a disturbing medical report, or you’re just getting fed up with the way you look and feel, you may finally be motivated to adopt a healthier lifestyle in 2018.

That’s wise move. But the truth is that making the decision to change is the easy part. Following through can be difficult, and many people revert back to their old ways rather than see it through.

So how can you improve your odds of success?

“The first thing it takes is to make a commitment to be responsible for your own health, and not rely on your doctors or anyone else,” says Dr. Mitchell Ghen, a Boca Raton, Fla.-based integrative physician.

He adds that the journey to good health is marathon, not a sprint. If you go on a crash diet, suddenly start running miles every day and otherwise take things to an extreme, you’re probably setting yourself up for failure.

“At first, make small changes,” Ghen tells Newsmax Health. “The old adage that a 1,000-mile journey begins with one step is relevant in this regard.”

Here are five areas on which to focus:

Eat right: Your first task is to learn which foods are healthy and which ones aren’t. In general, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seafood, lean meats, legumes, nuts and seeds are all on the healthy side, and going organic as much as possible will reduce your exposure to toxins. Processed and fried foods, sugary drinks, and simple carbohydrates (found in white bread, pasta and rice) are not healthy. Try substituting out the bad stuff with the good a little at a time.

“There are plenty of healthy foods out there so don’t try to force yourself to eat something you don’t like,” suggests Ghen. “Make conscious choices about what you put in your mouth. Just like you wouldn’t fill up your gas car with diesel, don’t fill up your body with the wrong kind of food.”

Exercise: There are many benefits to exercising regularly. Among other things, it helps our bodies burn off excess calories, improves cardiovascular function and boosts mood because it raises levels of ‘feel-good’ hormones. And you don’t have to start training for triathlons to reap the benefits.

Try starting with 20 minutes of moderate exercise three or four times a week. “The most important thing is to exercise regularly,” says Ghen. “Vary what you do so you get some strength training and some aerobic. And find things you enjoy, whether it’s martial arts, running, weightlifting or whatever.”

Experts also suggest working exercise into your regular routine by doing things such as taking stairs instead of elevators, parking at the far side of lots, carrying groceries in a hand-basket rather than a cart, and walking around while on the phone.

Chill out: It may be hard to escape stress in the 24/7 frenzy of the 21st century, but it’s vital to health. “Stress increases the levels of cortisol and other hormones that are damaging to the heart, brain and even DNA,” explains Ghen. “In many aspects, stress is a killer.”

Exercising, meditating, controlled breathing, singing, and having a good laugh are a few ways to beat stress. “Set aside some time for yourself every day, where you can relax and get yourself back to center,” notes the expert.

Sleep well: Your body needs sleep to clean and repair itself. But too little sleep or too much is no good. Studies show that six to eight hours a day is optimal. And skip the sleep aides because they disrupt the natural sleep-wake cycle.

“If you have a problem sleeping, you need to see an integrative physician who can analyze your biochemistry to find out why,” says Ghen. “Once you fix your biochemistry, you should be able to sleep normally again.”

Socialize: Studies consistently show that people who have the most social connections live healthier and longer lives than others. And that doesn’t mean relying only on social media. You also need face-to-face encounters.

“As humans, we require social interaction with others,” says Ghen. “Just like the cells in our bodies need other cells to perform properly, we need other people.”